Extracted from AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF HISTORY OF SKAGIT AND SNOHOMISH COUNTIES Their People, Their Commerce and Their Resources With An Outline of the Early History of the State of Washington Endorsed as Authentic By Local Committees of Pioneers. Published by Interstate Publishing Company 1906 and republished in 2000
By the Skagit Valley Genealogical Society, Mt Vernon WA and the Stillaguamish Valley Genealogical Society, Arlington WA. Reprint located at 3rd St Book Exchange, 1615 3rd St, Marysville WA.

SILAS W. MARIHUGH, for many years a resident of Washington, and now engaged in diversified farming four miles west of Mount Vernon, was born in Lawrence County, New York, in 1845. His father, Russell Marihugh, born in Vermont, was residing in Ohio at the time of his death in 1880. Elizabeth (Lennox) Marihugh, his mother, was born in New York city, and died in 1863. Remaining at home till he reached the age of twenty-one, Silas Marihugh then answered the call of his country for volunteers, enlisting in the One Hundred and Eighty-second Ohio infantry, under Captain Roemer. Camping at Toledo for a time, the regiment was then ordered to Columbus; thence to Louisville, Lexington and Nashville. Having helped to build Fort Butler, it was about to be pressed into active warfare at that point when relieved by a colored regiment comprising fifteen hundred men, of whom only five hundred remained after the engagement. Having received an honorable discharge in September, 1865, he returned to Ohio, and located at Defiance, working on a farm until 1869. He then went to Michigan, rented a farm and remained there for three years. The following fourteen years he did teaming in Union City, Michigan, after which he again rented land for six years. Deciding then to find a home in Washington, he sold his possessions, and came to Bayview, here purchasing two lots. Thirteen months later he went to Cypress Island, still later making Bayview his home again. In 1891 he bought twenty acres of unbroken forest, beginning at once the task of clearing it preparatory to building a home. During his residence of twelve years in Bayview he purchased forty acres more of timber land, hold at the present time sixty acres, of which about twelve are cleared. He rented his present home in January, 1904, and is now giving especial attention to dairying and grain raising. His farm is well stocked, having on it six horses of excellent blood, and fifty-one head of cattle, mostly Durham.

Mr. Marihugh was married June 6, 1868, to Emily Merchant, born February 19, 1847, in Definance Ohio. Her parents were Sampson and Emily (Temple) Merchant, both natives of Massachusetts; the father was born in 1811, the mother in 1815. A farmer and hotel keeper, Mr. Merchant made his home in New York for a while, later locating in Ohio, where he died in 1870. Mrs. Marihugh enjoyed unusual educational advantages, and beginning at sixteen taught for many years in Ohio and New York state. She died in Ohio in 1890, the mother of twelve children, Mrs. Marihugh being the seventh child. The others are as follows; Mrs Susan Lovell, of Bayview; Mrs. Jennie Verrick, William, Charlotte and Joseph C., allresidents of Ohio; Mrs Eva Frank, of Avon; Aletta, living with Mrs. Marihugh. Mr. and Mrs Marihugh's children are as follows; Clarence A. and Hugh, at Mount Vernon; Fred, at home; Mrs. Blanche Elliott, of Bayview; Daisy, at home, and two who are deceased. Mr. Marihugh is a member of the Larabee post of the Grand Army at La Conner, and is a loyal supporter of the Republican party. He has served as road supervisor, and is interested in educational matters, always lending his hearty support to any movement for the betterment of the schools of the community. He and his family attend the Episcopal church. A practical farmer, thoroughly familiar with all departments of the work, he is winning a large measure of success.